Newsletter: Term 1, Week 4: Thursday 17th February, 2022.
From the Principal's Desk
Dear Parents and Carers, it has been wonderful to see such high levels of peer connectedness, relationship building and engagement in learning, so early on in the school year. Our students and teachers actively engaged in activities that built new, or continued to build on positive relationships. Some of these included sharing our own interests, passions and talents, identifying our family, friends and groups we belong to and revisiting our school rules, outlining expectations - focusing on what they look like, sound like and feel like when in action.
This week, our teachers have begun assessing the students in areas of English and Mathematics. Some of these assessments are administered one on one, such as establishing a reading level. Others, such as spelling and Mathematics can be administered whole class or in small groups. Once assessments are complete, the teachers will work collaboratively to analyse data and plan learning sequences for students, catering for individual needs and learning styles. This data compliments data and knowledge we have previously gathered and contributes to the learning narrative of each student at St Augustine’s.
Parents, as vital partners in your child’s learning, will have many and varied opportunities to be a part of their learning journey. Communication channels such as Seesaw are set up to support the partnership and connection between home and school. In the coming weeks, our teachers will be available via Parent Teacher Chats and Information Sessions to continue the conversations about the student's learning journey.
Staffing Update
It is with many emotions, that I announce the resignation of our school Administrator, Mandy Simpson. Mandy has accepted the position of Business Manager at Miners Rest Primary School and will commence her new role on Tuesday February 22nd.
Words cannot describe the impact Mandy has had on this community across eighteen years. Losing a staff member as valuable as Mandy presents a challenge. She has meant so much to us, personally and professionally. We have leaned on her for wisdom and advice—no one more than I. We are at present interviewing for her job and will hopefully have found the perfect candidate to fill some very big shoes by the end of this week. On behalf of us all, thanks for the last eighteen years, we are a much better school and some of us much better people, after having worked with you across the years.
Please ensure you update the email address for the office from Mandy's email to:
admin@sacreswick.catholic.edu.au to ensure future correspondence is received!
Covid-19 Update
What to do in the event of a COVID-19 exposure or a positive result?
A student tests positive to COVID19, either through RAT or PCR test:
- Isolate at home or in private accommodation for 7 days (inclusive of weekends) and do not attend school during this period.
- Inform the school, that they have tested positive to COVID-19.
- A negative test result is not required to return to school following the completion of 7 days of isolation.
- Follow the Checklist for COVID cases located at:
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checklistcases
A student is a household contact to a positive COVID-19 case:
- You have spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID-19 inside a house, accommodation, or care facility.
- Follow the Checklist for COVID contacts.
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checklist-cases
- Student must quarantine for 7 days (inclusive of weekends) and must not attend school during this period.
- Contact at school is not included in this definition, unless contact has occurred in a school based residential setting, e.g. school camp or boarding school.
A student has been in contact with a case of COVID-19 at school:
- If asymptomatic, students should continue to attend school and monitor for symptoms.
- If symptomatic, they must stay or return home, take a rapid antigen test.
- On receipt of a negative test result, and if well enough, the student can return to school. If students are too unwell to attend school, usual leave/absence policies apply.
- Follow the Checklist for COVID contacts.
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checklist-cases
Our St Augustine’s community has been fortunate that we have not had significant staff numbers impacted by COVID such that we have continued to provide quality learning and teaching and student care. I remind families that this could change quickly and the school may be required to ask some classes or year levels to stay home if we do not have adequate staff numbers onsite. We hope that this is not the case, but if it does become a necessity, we will work hard to minimise any disruption.
Tuck-Shop Update
Lana Taylor and Fiona Trounce will be taking on the role as Tuck-Shop Coordinators for the year. Creswick Bakery will continue to provide the food and the same process of online ordering/payment will be used. Lana and Fiona have also requested to expand upon the current menu.
We currently have: Pies, Sausage Rolls, Party Pies,Veggie Pasties and Donuts.
The updated menu will include the above items plus: Fresh Fruit Salad, Chicken Caesar Salad, Chicken & Salad Roll, Vegemite Scrolls, Chicken Nuggets, Cheese Sandwich, Ham/Cheese Sandwich and Prima’s. We will be having a trial run before the end of the term, more details to follow.
Second Hand Uniform Shop
We thank Bernie Ellul who very efficiently ran our Uniform Shop last year. Due to Bernie's employment this year, she is no longer able to run the Uniform Shop. As such, we now require the services of parent/s or carer/s to assist with the running of our uniform shop. If this is of interest to you, please contact Terry to dicuss further. Thank you!!
Assemblies
This year we will continue to gather at 9 am outside on the grid for Monday morning assemblies. We will sing the National Anthem, do birthdays and announcements. You might like to add these dates to your diaries. Hopefully parents will be able to join us inside for a full class assembly when things settle down. We will send out dates and times when we are able to make that happen.
Parents & Friends
We are hoping to reform the Parents & Friends Group and are looking for community members to join together to shape what that might look like. The focus is not on fundraising, but more on providing opportunities to come together to celebrate who we are as a community.
One main objective of the P&F is to be a ‘Friend-Raising’ group providing opportunities for parents and friends to socialise and get to know one another, participate in the life of the school, and provide support and information for parents.
If this is something that you be would be interested in, please register your interest via email to: principal@sacreswick.catholic.edu.au
St Augustine's Wellbeing Page
Welcome to our St Augustine's Wellbeing page. Here at St Augustine's we are dedicated to supporting the social, emotional, physical, psychological and spiritual wellbeing of our students. You will find the winners of our fortnightly values awards, any other information relating to student wellbeing, and regular fact sheets to support student wellbeing at our school.
Berry Street Educational Model
According to the Berry Street Education Model, values are enduring beliefs and attitudes that guide everyday behaviours both big and small. Exploring values is an important source of self-knowledge and awareness. Here at St Augustine's, we believe that knowing your own values, and living in accordance with them, is a pathway towards a fulfilling and meaningful life. Therefore, students are explicitly taught a range of different values throughout the year, and two students from each class are presented with a certificate for demonstrating that particular value. Values awards are presented fortnightly and include the 4 values included in our Essence Statement of faith, service, courage and compassion.
Congratulations to the recipients of the 'Gratitude' award:
Winslow Trafford, Nora Collins, Harper McCartney, Sam Pearce, Abigail Harris,
Johnny Petrie, Billy Trafford, Evie Gull, Matilda Trounce, Ava Adams,
Declan Ruddy, Chloe Elsworth, Dani Crilly and Max Clohesy.
Angelique Greene - Wellbeing Coordinator
St A's 2022 School Leaders!
CSEF: Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund
** FINAL REMINDER - Do you hold a Health Care Card? If so, you are eligible to claim the Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund!
The Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund (CSEF) is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of trips, camps, sports and excursions.
TO BE ELIGIBLE for a Primary School Student: On the first day of Term 1 (31st Jan 2022) OR the first day of Term 2 (26th April 2022), a parent or legal guardian of a student must:
- Be an eligible beneficiary of one of these cards: Veterans Affairs Gold Card, Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card
- OR they must be a temporary Foster Parent
- AND the parent/legal guardian must submit an application form by the due date
Parents who receive a Carers Allowance on behalf of a child, or any other benefit or allowance not income tested by Centrelink, are not eligible for the CSEF, unless they also comply with the above. Eligibility will be determined when the parent’s concession card successfully validates with Centrelink on either the first day of Term 1 or Term 2. If the eligible card is in the name of the student, the fund is only granted to that student, not to their siblings.
For the purpose of CSEF, students may be eligible for assistance if they attend a Victorian Registered primary or secondary school. Typically, these students are aged between 5 & 18 years. CSEF is not payable to students attending Kindergarten, TAFE or who are home schooled.
CSEF Applications for 2021 are now open. Payment amounts are: $125 per year for eligible primary school students, payments are made to the school and are tied to the student. NOTE that if you applied for CSEF last year, you do not need to complete an application form for 2022, unless there has been a change in your family circumstances. You only need to complete a new application form, if any of the following changes have occurred:
* New Student Enrolment - commenced school in 2022, changed schools in 2022 or you did not apply in 2021; or
* Changed family circumstances - change of name, change of custody, concession card number or new siblings commencing in 2022.
If you are eligible, you can either complete the attached Application form and email it, along with a copy of your Health Card/Concession Card to (admin@sacreswick.catholic.edu.au) OR drop into the office to complete a paper form - ensure you bring your card with you for proof of eligibility. Note that Application forms need to be completed and lodged ASAP as payments are made in March. Schools will be able to accept and process applications up until the end of Term 2.
ALSO NOTE, if you are elgible to claim CSEF you are also elgibile to claim the 'Family Fee Assistance Scheme' - please refer to details regarding this Scheme and the Application Form below.
Family Fee Assistance Scheme
The ‘Family Fee Assistance Scheme’ continues in 2022 across all Ballarat Diocesan Catholic Primary Schools. This Scheme offers a tuition fee concession to families who hold a Health Care Card or Pension Card. Families who qualify for the CSEF will also qualify for this Scheme and will receive a reduction in school fees if eligible. The discounted fee covers tuition and capital fees only. It does not cover additional charges such as camps, book hire, subject levies, etc. A copy of the Application Letter is attached below, it can be completed and emailed to: admin@sacreswick.catholic.edu.au or feel free to drop into the office to complete the Application letter and for further information about the Family Fee Assistance Scheme. Please bring your card for proof of eligibility.
Conveyance Allowance
** FINAL REMINDER
Conveyance Allowance is available to eligible families to assist with the cost of transporting students to school. Distance is measured by the shortest practicable route between the student’s place of residence and their school. An Application form is attached below or you can come into the office to collect the Application form. To be eligible, student/s must:
- Attend the closest school of the chosen denominational group;
- Be of school age (5 to 18 years old at the time of application) and reside in Victoria;
- Live 4.8kms or more from the school measured by the shortest practical route;
- The residential address should be based on the Rural Road Numbering System. Mailbox & PO Box addresses cannot be used;
- Must attend an eligible school within the conveyance area;
Families applying for the Conveyance Allowance for 2022 PLEASE NOTE:
- Parents who successfully applied and received the Conveyance Allowance in 2021 are not required to complete a new application unless their details have changed.
- All Applications MUST be returned no later than Friday 11th March, 2022.
- Parents/Guardians are responsible for notifying us with any change to the information noted on previous School Conveyance Allowance Application Forms within 7 days of changed circumstances!
- Four payments for 2022 Claims will be made towards the end of each school term. Please note that due to Government guidelines, no claim is allowed to be paid without the appropriate documentation. Submission closing dates for 2022 are:
TERM 1: 11th March - TERM 2: 27th May - TERM 3: 19th August - TERM 4: 18th Nov.
- The Conveyance Allowance guidelines can be viewed at: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/conveyance-allowance/guidance/responsibilities-parents/carers
Dates to Note!
FEBRUARY
Friday 18th: Photo of Foundation students being taken by the Courier
Wednesday 23rd: Foundation Students Rest Day
Thursday 24th to Friday 25th: Year 5 Camp (Sov Hill)
MARCH
Tuesday 1st: Shrove Tuesday
Wednesday 2nd: Ash Wednesday
Wednesday 2nd: Foundation Students Rest Day
Wednesday 9th: Foundation Students Rest Day (last rest day)
* Thursday 10th: STUDENT FREE DAY due to whole Staff PD
* Friday 11th: STUDENT FREE DAY due to whole Staff PD
Monday 14th: PUBLIC HOLIDAY
Tuesday 15th: Foundation students commence 5 days per week
APRIL
Friday 1st: Goldfields Cross Country - Year's 3 to 6 only
Friday 8th: Last Day of Term 1
Tuesday 26th: Term 2 commences
Thursday 28th: Whole School Photo day
Also note the below two dates when our school will be conducting Professional Development and will therefore, be closed on the following days later this year:
- Friday 12th August
- Monday 31st October
